Presocial and euscial animals

categories of social behaviour

presocial and eusocial

eusociality

animals that live in colonies and have complex and rigid social structures

includes several generations of animals

the colony will have a queen which is the only reproducing female. Other members have roles, e.g.:

cooperative brood care

gathering food supplies

protecting the colony and nest

examples of eusocial animals

many invertebrate species e.g. hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps), termites and aphids, naked mole rat

‘queen’ in a colony

the only reproducing female

examples of roles in a colony

queen - only reproducing female

cooperative brood care

gathering food supplies

protecting the colony and nest

name a eusocial species that seems uncommon and why?

naked mole rat

they are mammals which is uncommon among eusocial species

presociality

a form of social behaviour that involves aspects of social hierarchies and working together - but not in such a complex way as eusocial animals

example of a presocial species

wolves

how are wolves a presocial species?

they live together in a social group

they work together when hunting and looking after the young, they also have a hierarchy - wolves that do not fit into this may be forced out of the group or leave to find another group

which social behaviour category is more common?

presociality

key social behaviours of social animals living in groups

1. communal living in colonies

2. taking care of others’ young

3. sharing the labour (e.g. protecting others in the group and gathering food

do eusocial species exhibit any of the 3 main social behaviours?

yes, all 3

do presocial species exhibit any of the 3 main social behaviours?

yes, some, but not all

e.g. may animals may not have clearly defined roles and they may leave to join other groups - this does not occur within eusociality

some presocial species live in colonies, but do not demonstrate all behaviours seen in the members of eusocial colonies